The album kicks off with "Crop Circle," the first song on the demo tape mentioned in the book. The full title in the book is "There's A Crop Circle On My Daddy's Land," a song fated to become a country hit for another character in the book. Will it also be a hit for The Cucumbers? If there were any justice in the Land of Music, the answer would be a resounding Yes. But, who knows? The song is adorable, fun, a story of young love. "There's a crop circle on my daddy's land/Everybody thinks was made my aliens/Though it's nothing that Billy Joe and I had planned." Here Deena takes the part of Daisy Steinberg. That's followed by "Waiting," which is, as described in the novella, more in the singer/songwriter vein, delivered on acoustic guitar. But, you know, it's The Cucumbers, so it's not going to be as simple as that. There is a beauty to this song, and also there is a bit of a punk edge to it at certain moments. Check out these lyrics: "Autumn will take everything/When the times comes/I don't want to look it up/Or be on guard/I don't want to pull a Tarot card." By the way, in the book this song is referred to as "Impressions Of Chrysanthemums." The book is told from the perspective of a music publisher, who says, about this song, "After a hundred listens I still have no idea what it's about" (p. 5). It's an interesting, strange way for them to comment on their own songs. But don't you love songs that give you a certain something to which you then add your own feelings and experiences?
"Cut It Loose" begins with a good groove, a song more in the pop realm. It is totally delicious. I especially love that bass line. But it isn't just that groove that is so appealing. Deena's vocal performance is adorable, endearing, delightful. "You know what, you know what to do/Cut it loose, cut it loose, cut it loose." This song is ridiculously catchy, and includes finger snaps. When she sings, "let's get this party underway," it feels like the party has already started. There is certain allure in her delivery of that line. The final track of the demo of the story, "Unattainable," is a strange, short piece delivered as spoken word, with interesting pauses, her voice backed by some unusual work on piano. "Reaching for the unattainable/Falling for the unexplainable/Facing the unnameable." It has a sudden ending.
The CD's next four tracks are all songs mentioned in the book, but not as part of the original demo. The first of those, "You Are The Sweetest Dream," has a folk-pop sound. The song feels like a summer afternoon, when thoughts move at their own pace, in their own direction, perhaps to the past, perhaps to an altered version of the present. "Sometimes dreams slip away/And they don't come back." I find those lines so sad, though they're not delivered with any sort of heavy melancholy. In fact, there is positive vibe to this song, her voice even kind of comforting. And the song's guitar hook has a wonderful feel to it, something new but familiar. "You are the sweetest dream/I ever had." One thing I have long loved about this band is its playful quality, and "Delete" in particular demonstrates their humor, in a sort of punk-pop context, an empowering number. "And now there's no word that's as sweet/As delete." Oh yes, there are people and things I would like to delete from my life, or, really, from the world. How do I delete Trump and all his moronic followers? I wish I could do it with my little finger (or middle finger). I love this song. "Weeks and weeks and months of lies/You know he really made a fool of me/Now I'm cleaning my hard drive." At the end, she whispers the final word, "Delete." And he's gone. We know it.
"Only You" is a sweet number, a love song, with a delightful rhythm that will take you back. "You've seen me at your worst and you never complain/It feels so sweet and pure when your hands run down my face/You're my other half, baby/That's why I believe/I want only you to love only me." Then "Statue Of Liberty" has an electronic beat. There is an odd feel to this one, the sound reminding me of a cassette that had been played perhaps too many times, with something sort of warping the sound. But there is something catchy here too, no question about it. "Meet me at the Statue of Liberty/Meet me at the Statue of Liberty/That's where we're gonna kiss/That's where we're gonna kiss/That's where we're gonna kiss." By the way, apparently this album is also available on cassette, which is totally fitting. This song is the final song on the first side of the cassette, that side being labeled "As You Heard Me," which is also the album's title.
"Reeling Feeling" is the first song on the second side of the tape. This side is labeled "More Songs for Barry," Barry being the name of the music publisher in the book. The songs on this side are not mentioned in the book, but, I would guess, are songs that come soon after the events related in its story. This song has a fun groove, with some really nice work on keys at the start, setting the mood, establishing the vibe. And, yes, it's super catchy, particularly the way Deena delivers these lines: "There's a feeling that I'm feeling/And it's got me reeling over you." And also that rhythm. There is more great stuff on keys in the middle, dancing joyously. Ah yes, life is good. That's followed by "Counting," which has a seriously cool vibe, partly established by the work on keys. This track also features some good work on guitar, which has something of a haunted feel at times. And Deena's vocal performance has a certain sexy quality. "If the fog would lift, we could see the stars," she sings at the beginning, which is interesting, for in "Reeling Feeling" she sings, "And all I see are stars above." In the song's chorus, she sings, "I'm counting on you/I'm counting on you/I'm counting on you to count on me." This is one of my personal favorite tracks.
In "Reeling Feeling," Deena sings, "And all I sing are songs of love." Interestingly, that seems to be the case for the music in this second half of the disc. "One Valentine's Day" is a love song with a sweet sound and vibe. "Brought me down to his place the very first chance/Played me his favorite songs and we just danced." Lovely! If I were to play someone my favorite songs, you can be sure some Cucumbers numbers would be included. Things turn a little sad at the end, but she is determined to hold on to the good feelings of the relationship. I think we all need to hold onto whatever good feelings we have in these strange times. That is followed by "River Of Time," a beautiful and moving song, featuring some outstanding vocal work. Check out these lines: "You skipped a rock across its water/We touched and you went on to the other side/I know you're still dreaming/Of all there was/Once you float in heaven/There's no forgetting love." Deena's voice is supported by some seemingly simple work on guitar that is completely effective. This one might have you in tears. It is another of my personal favorites.
"Hello Rainbow" is another unusual and delightful song, which I suppose is not such an unusual thing for The Cucumbers. The echo of "Hello" is ridiculously, improbably adorable, and will help you to fall in love with this track. It's an interesting song that at first just seems kind of cute, but then begins to reveal more is happening. "Won't you rescue me from my sweet gloom/A little hope would probably do." That's followed by "You Won't Even Miss Me." That's how it's listed on the CD case (really, the cassette case pictured on the back of the CD case), though elsewhere it is listed as "You Won't Even Miss Me When I'm Gone." "You have so many girlfriends/Just take me off your list." Those opening lines actually made me laugh out loud the first time I listened to this song. But there is a certain sadness to this song, as she sings the title line. "Love can make you feel/Like the you you were meant to be/And once you made me believe/That you loved me just for me." And suddenly it's over, like she's now gone.
"I'm The Girl" also has a short title on the case, and a longer title elsewhere, the longer title being "I'm The Girl I Warned Your Mama About" (I always squeezed the entire song title onto those relative short lines on the cassette's paper insert, but I remember other people shortening some song titles, especially on Grateful Dead bootleg tapes). It's a sweet-sounding and catchy pop song, told from an unusual perspective, at least the way I hear it. To my ears, the song's narrator is older than her beau, old enough to be friends with the boy's mother. And then this strange woman somewhat perversely enjoys telling her beau, "I'm the girl I warned your mama about/I'm the one I said you're better off without." But she sounds so sweet, I can see how anyone would fall for her charms. This track includes some finger snaps. This wonderful, delightful album concludes with "Forever And Ever," another sweet love song. "All I want to do/Is share my life with you/And help to make your hopes and dreams come true." How great it is to feel that way, and to find someone else feels that way about you. This album leaves us feeling good. Yes, The Cucumbers have done it again.
CD Track List
- Crop Circle
- Waiting
- Cut It Loose
- Unattainable
- You Are The Sweetest Dream
- Delete
- Only You
- Statue Of Liberty
- Reeling Feeling
- Counting
- One Valentine's Day
- River Of Time
- Hello Rainbow
- You Won't Even Miss Me
- I'm The Girl
- Forever And Ever
As You Heard Me was released on February 14, 2026, which makes total sense.
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